Li Rong remained silent, quietly observing Su Rongqing.

Su Rongqing allowed her scrutiny without speaking.

After a long while, Li Rong spoke slowly, “I recall that the Su family has always been loyal only to His Majesty.”

“Yes,” Su Rongqing replied calmly, “Therefore, Rongqing is only Rongqing and does not represent the Su family.”

Li Rong understood Su Rongqing’s meaning. She lightly tapped on the small table while the clamor of the street filled the air outside. Su Rongqing waited quietly for Li Rong’s response.

“Why choose to support the Crown Prince at this time?”

Li Rong spoke slowly. Su Rongqing lowered his eyes and replied in a calm, steady voice, “When His Majesty was in the prime of his years, he favored warfare, which caused great hardship to the people of Great Xia. Now he dotes on powerful ministers, further increasing the people’s suffering. The Crown Prince is benevolent and virtuous, advocating Confucianism externally and Daoism internally, promoting rest and recuperation. Rongqing wishes to see the realm achieve this, and therefore follows His Highness.”

“You can speak directly to the Crown Prince,” Li Rong picked up her tea. “What’s the point of telling me all this?”

“The Crown Prince has an open heart and cannot conceal matters. Rongqing’s current position should not be known to the Crown Prince.”

Li Rong understood.

Even though Su Rongqing represented himself, as a son of the Su family, if Li Ming learned that he had pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, Li Ming’s suspicion of the Crown Prince would likely deepen.

Now that he had found an opportunity to declare his position to her, when she helped Li Chuan plan matters in the future, she could at least make use of Su Rongqing.

Li Rong listened without speaking. Su Rongqing raised his head in confusion and couldn’t help but say, “Your Highness?”

“You need not do these things,” Li Rong came back to her senses and spoke flatly. “The Su family has been upright for generations. His Majesty trusts you because of this loyalty. You need not take sides. Do your duties well, and if something happens to the Crown Prince in the future, you can keep yourselves safe. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne,” Li Rong looked at him and simply said, “As long as you do your jobs as you do now, as long as I am here, the Su family will always be the Su family.”

Having received these words, Su Rongqing fell silent, seemingly contemplating.

Seeing that he appeared uneasy, Li Rong comforted him, “I say this not to refuse your allegiance, but I feel that,” she paused for a moment before continuing slowly, “Young Master Su is a refined gentleman and should not be tainted by these matters.”

Although she had truly come to know Su Rongqing after his downfall, and the Su Rongqing she knew and saw had this politician-like appearance, she still remembered the faintly soft light in Su Rongqing’s eyes when he spoke to her of his youth.

She and Pei Wenxuan had come back already aged—that was unavoidable—but seeing the still-young Su Rongqing before her, she couldn’t help but feel a bit protective.

Receiving her words, Su Rongqing was momentarily dazed. Li Rong rotated the fan in her hand, coughed lightly, and changed the subject, “Lord Su, please tell me about the situation with the Ministry of War’s account books.”

Hearing this, Su Rongqing finally came to his senses and respectfully complied, going through all the information about the Ministry of War’s current accounts that had been gathered.

The two entered the Ministry of War one after the other. Su Rongqing had already arranged matters with the officials. Li Rong went to the room where the account books were stored, retrieved all accounts related to the northwestern border, and had people cross-check them.

These accounts were numerous. Li Rong stayed at the Ministry of War for two full days. After two days of checking accounts, she immediately brought people and, with orders from the Ministry of Justice, collectively interrogated all related persons.

At the same time, Li Rong also instructed Jing Lan to arrange all the Princess Manor’s personnel to keep constant watch on any movements at Tuoba Yan’s residence and to inquire daily about Li Chuan’s situation at Nine Hut Mountain.

She knew that within five days at most, news would definitely come from the border, and these five days were her time to arrange everything.

Her actions were not too conspicuous. Checking accounts and interrogating those officials were not fatal blows to the Yang family. Their public accounts couldn’t possibly have any problems. In Consort Ning’s eyes, Li Rong’s actions even seemed misdirected, and she was happy to watch Li Rong run around like a headless fly.

As for Li Rong’s investigation of Tuoba Yan, it proceeded even more quietly. Even Su Rongqing, who followed her daily to check accounts, didn’t know she was still holding onto Tuoba Yan.

After four consecutive days of investigating cases, Li Rong had almost completely sorted through the entire Ministry of War’s process and amounts for allocating military provisions to the Yang family. She walked out of the Ministry of War satisfied with the confessions in hand. It was already midnight. As soon as she stepped out the main gate, Jing Lan approached and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, we’ve found Tuoba Yan.”

Hearing this, Li Rong was delighted. She knew Tuoba Yan wasn’t someone who would die so easily. Restraining her emotions, she led her people forward while asking in a low voice as they walked, “Where is he?”

“In the outskirts of the city, still in pursuit.”

“I’ll go there immediately.”

With that, Li Rong arranged for a group of people to pretend to escort her back to the Princess Manor, while another group followed her in light riding clothes and plain dress, heading directly out of the city.

Upon arriving at the outskirts, someone was waiting. Seeing Li Rong approach, they said in a low voice, “Your Highness, we’ve captured him.”

Li Rong nodded and followed the group to a dilapidated house. Inside stood a full complement of shadow guards, with a large man tied to a chair in the center. He was soaking wet, covered in wounds, and looked extremely exhausted.

Li Rong walked up to the man and said with a smile, “Sixth Master, it’s been a long time.”

Hearing this voice, Tuoba Yan gasped and raised his head, staring at Li Rong for a while before speaking hoarsely, “It’s you.”

“It’s me.” Li Rong nodded. “Sixth Master hasn’t been having a good time these days, have you? I thought Sixth Master would have left Hua Jing. Why are you still wandering around near Hua Jing?”

“Who exactly are you?”

Tuoba Yan stared at Li Rong and asked directly, “What do you want to do?”

“You probably already know who I am,” Li Rong chuckled lightly. “Right now I just want Sixth Master to help with something. That account book of yours—the account book alone isn’t enough. Sixth Master, see if you can act as a witness?”

“This doesn’t follow the rules.”

Tuoba Yan spoke in a low voice, “Since Your Highness could find me here, you should know that in our line of work, we can die, but we cannot violate these rules.”

“Sixth Master, they tried to kill you first,” Li Rong spoke softly. “They tried to kill you, and you fight back—can that be considered breaking the rules?”

As Li Rong spoke, she squatted down and looked at Tuoba Yan with a smile, “Sixth Master, I know your rules. You cannot reveal even half of your clients’ affairs. But if you had no thought of fighting back at all, why would you hide these account books?”

“This is only a threat,” Tuoba Yan spoke calmly. “Once a threat is used, it’s no longer a threat.”

“You’re just afraid that if you bring out the account books to testify against the Yang family, those other families whose account books you hold will kill you. But Sixth Master, you need to be alive to have the chance of being killed.”

“Then just kill me.”

Tuoba Yan spoke coldly, “Having fallen into your hands, I never expected to live.”

“Sixth Master, you jest. Why would I kill you?” Li Rong spoke gently. “You fear the merchant guild’s methods. Do you think,” Li Rong’s hand gently rested on Tuoba Yan’s shoulder, “I don’t know them?”

“Let me tell you quietly, when it comes to torture,” Li Rong leaned close to Tuoba Yan, her voice soft, “the palace has studied it far more than your merchant guilds. Come.”

Li Rong straightened up and said flatly, “First pull out his fingernails for me!”

With that, Li Rong walked to a chair that had already been cleaned and sat down. Taking tea from the side, she said with a smile, “Sixth Master, it’s nearly dawn now. The merchant guild’s thirty-nine tortures probably won’t last until tomorrow night. How about I add a few more for you?”

As soon as the words fell, Tuoba Yan screamed in agony. Fresh blood splattered onto Li Rong’s skirt. Li Rong lowered her eyes to drink tea, her expression unchanged.

Beside her, Jing Lan’s face turned pale. Li Rong said flatly, “If you’re uncomfortable, go outside.”

Having received these words, Jing Lan covered her mouth and hurriedly left. Li Rong held her tea bowl and spoke calmly, “Sixth Master, one cannot always live bound by rules. You must learn to assess the situation. Right now, if you leave, it’s death. Stay by my side, and you can still have a way to live. Today you’re being stubborn, and you can endure thirty-nine tortures, but do you think that once you die, it’s over? Your wife is working as an embroiderer in Clear Water Town in Luzhou. Your son is also of school age now. I heard you arranged an identity for him and want him to enter Phoenix Mountain Academy next year to study. Many matters—don’t be too obstinate. Think about it,” Li Rong raised her eyes with a slight smile. “Think carefully.”

Having finished speaking, Li Rong turned her head and ordered, “Apply honey to him.”

As soon as the words fell, Tuoba Yan’s voice came, “I’ll confess!”

Everyone’s movements froze. Li Rong raised her eyes to look at him. This man stared at her with bloodshot eyes and said through gritted teeth, “I’ll give you a confession, but you must guarantee one thing.”

“Your wife will be brought to my side, and your child will enter the even better Fragrant Mountain Academy,” Li Rong knew what he wanted to say and spoke directly. “You’ll work for the Princess Manor. As long as you’re obedient,” Li Rong stared at him, “I don’t mistreat my own people.”

Tuoba Yan said nothing. He gasped for breath, staring at Li Rong. After a long while, Li Rong raised her chin, “Give him paper and brush.”

An attendant beside her brought over paper and brush. Tuoba Yan was untied and began writing his confession with trembling hands.

He wrote with extreme difficulty. After finishing, he handed it to Li Rong. Li Rong read it through, confirmed there were no problems with the confession, then ordered someone beside her to settle Tuoba Yan at Li Chuan’s place before she mounted her carriage and led her people back to the Princess Manor.

She hadn’t slept all night. Sitting in the carriage with her eyes closed to rest, she calculated the current arrangements.

The evidence of the Yang family’s embezzlement of military provisions was basically complete on the Hua Jing side. She had the Ministry of War’s account books, Tuoba Yan’s confession, that private ledger, and confessions from all related participants. Next, she only needed to wait for the border accounts to arrive.

As she was calculating in her mind, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from outside. Then her carriage stopped abruptly, and she heard someone say, “Is Princess Pingle’s Highness in the carriage?”

Li Rong signaled to Jing Lan. Jing Lan lifted the curtain and poked her head out to see officers from the Ministry of Justice standing outside. Jing Lan frowned, “You are?”

“I am Wang Qing from the Office of Scrutiny. By His Majesty’s oral decree, in recent days, Princess Pingle has abused her authority and perverted the law, using the investigation as a pretext to oppress trusted ministers and colluding with the suspect Pei Wenxuan with suspicion of harming others. She is to be confined for one month and transferred to the Ministry of Justice to assist in investigating the case of Tuoba Yan’s murder.”

Hearing this, Jing Lan was stunned. She looked back at Li Rong, who had lifted the curtain, not knowing what to say.

Tuoba Yan was in their hands. As long as they handed him over, Li Rong couldn’t possibly enter the Ministry of Justice, and Pei Wenxuan would be released as well.

However, Li Rong said nothing, so Jing Lan dared not speak more. Li Rong looked at the man before her, smiled, and spoke gently, “Do I need to be escorted there?”

Wang Qing respectfully stepped aside and hastily said, “This humble official can just follow Your Highness.”

Li Rong nodded, then instructed Jing Mei inside the carriage, “Go ahead first and clean up the cell.”

Jing Mei respectfully responded, quickly descended from the carriage, and led people to go ahead. Li Rong returned to the carriage, closed her eyes, and said nothing more.

Before long, she arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison. Wang Qing walked ahead, most respectfully. Everyone understood clearly that as long as Li Chuan didn’t fall, Li Rong coming to the Ministry of Justice was just for show.

“Lord Wang,” Li Rong spoke gently, “Can I choose which cell to stay in?”

“Of course,” Wang Qing was trembling inside upon seeing Li Rong now, afraid of offending this precious princess. He hastily said, “Whichever room Your Highness fancies?”

“Can I stay in the room next to Lord Pei’s?”

Li Rong smiled, “Having an acquaintance nearby, I won’t be so afraid.”

“Your Highness is right,” Wang Qing said obsequiously. “Your Highness and Lord Pei are involved in the same case, so they should be together anyway.”

With that, Wang Qing led Li Rong to the end of the prison.

The cells at this end were specially set up, obviously for high officials and nobles to reside in—a separate corner with a few scattered cells. Apart from Pei Wenxuan lying inside reading a book, there was no one else at all.

Pei Wenxuan was lying on the bed reading a travelogue. Seeing Li Rong enter, he stood up, placed the book on the small table, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and looked at Li Rong with a smile.

Seeing him look over, Li Rong first chose the cell next to Pei Wenxuan’s. After having people go in to arrange things, she walked up to Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan looked her up and down and said with a smile, “Your Highness came so quickly. Could it be you missed this humble minister?”

Li Rong burst out laughing and raised her fan to cover half her face, “It seems you haven’t learned anything else in prison, but Lord Pei’s mouth has made considerable progress.”

“Not bad, not bad,” Pei Wenxuan nodded with a completely serious expression. “Your Highness originally said you would come visit this humble minister once a day, but this humble minister has waited these several days without seeing a shadow of Your Highness. Every day thinking of you day and night, tossing and turning unable to sleep, looking forward with longing eyes, now that I finally see Your Highness, my heart has a thousand words, too agitated, much offense given—I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

Li Rong was amused by Pei Wenxuan, covering her face with her fan and laughing continuously.

Seeing Li Rong’s delighted expression, Pei Wenxuan knew there were no major problems outside. He asked in a low voice, “Everything settled?”

“Two matters—one is settled.”

As Li Rong spoke, she glanced around and said in a low voice, “I’ll talk about it later.”

Jing Lan and Jing Mei brought things and cleaned up the entire cell, placed incense, and also prepared curtains to hang at the cell door. In less than a quarter-hour, the entire cell was almost the same as the bedroom Li Rong usually stayed in. After everything was arranged, Jing Lan agreed with Li Rong on the daily visiting time. Only after Li Rong moved into the cell did everyone leave.

Just moments ago it was bustling with people, but in an instant, only Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan remained, separated by a wall. Pei Wenxuan leaned against the wall and continued, “Which matter is settled?”

No one answered. Pei Wenxuan found it strange and was about to ask again when he saw a hand with red-painted nails reaching over with a note. Pei Wenxuan bent down to take the note, opened it, and saw Li Rong’s handwriting: “Evidence gathering.”

“That’s not important.” Pei Wenxuan shook his head and raised his eyes to look to the side. Although he couldn’t see Li Rong, this action gave him some peace of mind. “What about the person? Did Your Highness manage to invite him?”

“Still inviting.” Li Rong, seeing that Pei Wenxuan wasn’t being secretive at all, knew this place must be safe. She didn’t bother writing notes either and simply said, “Is he such an easy person to invite down the mountain?”

“Not unexpected either.” Pei Wenxuan tore up the note. As he tore, he couldn’t help but frown and ask Li Rong, “How was he invited down in the last life? I remember he wasn’t this hard to invite.”

In the last life, although Qin Lin also put on airs, it didn’t feel this excessive. Now Li Chuan had been trying to invite him for four days—how was there still no movement?

Hearing Pei Wenxuan ask this, Li Rong felt somewhat uneasy in her heart. She couldn’t help but say, “Could it be that our advancing this matter has had an effect?”

Just like how she held a spring banquet and ended up provoking Yang Quan. Now that they were inviting Qin Lin early…

“We won’t fail to invite him, will we?” Li Rong couldn’t help but doubt.

Pei Wenxuan hastily said, “Don’t jinx it.”

“What if we can’t invite him?” Li Rong completely ignored Pei Wenxuan’s attempt to stop her and frowned. Seeing that Li Rong completely wasn’t listening to him, Pei Wenxuan could only say, “What can we do? Deal with it when it happens.”

“Pei Wenxuan,” Li Rong, hearing Pei Wenxuan’s unhelpful remarks, tapped her palm lightly with her fan and said leisurely, “If Qin Lin won’t come down, I’ll stuff you into the northwest. Either bring the northwest back to me, or I’ll bury you there.”

Li Rong’s voice was very steady, but when she said the word “bury” at the end, Pei Wenxuan detected a hint of bloodthirst.

Pei Wenxuan’s heart felt a bit cold, but he wasn’t someone who could be intimidated by such things. He coughed lightly, somewhat embarrassed, “It’s mainly that you mind. If you don’t mind, I do have a solution.”

“For example?”

“He is after all the real…” Pei Wenxuan’s words didn’t leave his mouth before he heard Li Rong say, “Real what?”

Pei Wenxuan changed his wording mid-sentence, switching to another form of address, “Second Miss Qin’s biological older brother.”

“So?”

Li Rong fanned herself, her voice carrying a smile, but Pei Wenxuan somehow detected an indescribable coldness. Pei Wenxuan didn’t know why, but his heart panicked a bit. Still, he braced himself and said with difficulty, “I think I might still have some face?”

“Ha,” Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh. “What face can a man who was rejected have? Do you have any shame left?”

“Her breaking off the engagement with me was definitely because she was forced.”

“Pei Wenxuan, I’ve discovered that while your other abilities are average, you’re especially good at self-deception.” Li Rong couldn’t stand listening anymore and tapped the ground with her fan. “Her feelings for Chuan’er are clear as day—what does that have to do with you? Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that she’s completely devoted to Chuan’er with no room for you, this dog, in the last life, just based on how you helped her and dared to hide it from me, if she had shown even half a response, I would have destroyed her!”

“Your logic is wrong,” Pei Wenxuan, hearing Li Rong’s words, spoke seriously. “Her liking Your Highness came later. When she broke off the engagement with me, I had just returned from mourning. She hadn’t met Your Highness yet. Her breaking off the engagement with me must have been because her family forced her.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words, Li Rong almost vomited blood. The key point was—when did Qin Zhenzhen ever like Li Chuan? She simply didn’t like him, Pei Wenxuan! The broken engagement was completely voluntary, self-initiated, and her own declaration!

She took a deep breath, restraining her emotions, “Pei Wenxuan, you really should be grateful that you and I are currently in prison.”

“Otherwise?” Pei Wenxuan didn’t understand Li Rong’s words. He was still thinking about Qin Lin’s matter when he heard Li Rong say ominously, “If these wooden bars weren’t blocking me, I’d go over right now and claw your eyes out!”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

He felt that Li Rong seemed particularly irritable. After a moment of silence, he said carefully, “You’re a princess. You should still pay attention to your status. Using your hands—it doesn’t look good.”

“It’s not good for me to use my hands,” Li Rong sneered. “Having others do it would work.”

“Girls shouldn’t,” Pei Wenxuan said casually, “engage in all this fighting and killing. Drink some tea, calm down, and let’s continue talking.”

“I have nothing good to talk about with you.”

Li Rong stood up and spoke coldly, “Go talk to your Zhenzhen.”

“Why is your temper so bad today? I thought we’d already argued enough about this topic,” Pei Wenxuan sighed. After thinking for a moment, he couldn’t help but say, “Have you been interrogating people recently?”

Li Rong’s movements froze. Pei Wenxuan, seeing she didn’t respond, understood in his heart.

Li Rong had always been like this—seeing blood easily made her lose composure.

It was the same in the last life. It was just that at that time, although they were allies, they still had their own considerations. Li Rong didn’t trust him, so many matters wouldn’t be handled by him, and he couldn’t help her.

Fortunately, this life was different. At least now, the two of them absolutely stood on the same line.

Pei Wenxuan was silent for a while before speaking slowly, “From now on, let me handle these things. Don’t get involved anymore.”

“No need.” Li Rong spoke coldly. “It’s none of your business.”

“Can I consider it as me asking you?” Pei Wenxuan sighed. He knew Li Rong was in a fit of anger and spoke gently, “We’re going to live together from now on. Don’t keep getting angry like this. You go interrogate people, make yourself uncomfortable, then come back and take it out on me—isn’t it me who suffers in the end?”

“I’m begging you, my princess,” Pei Wenxuan drew out his voice. “Give this humble minister a way to live. Let this humble minister help you with these things, all right?”

Li Rong sneered and didn’t answer. She walked to the bed and was about to lie down when she heard voices coming from outside.

Before long, Li Chuan walked in with someone. Li Chuan was still wearing commoner’s clothes, obviously not having come from the palace. He hurried to Li Rong’s cell door and said urgently, “Sister, I heard something happened to you and specially rushed back from Nine Hut Mountain. Are you all right?”

“Fine,” Li Rong nodded. “It was expected. No need to worry. Did you manage to invite Qin Lin?”

“Not yet,” Li Chuan shook his head, then as if remembering something, hastily said, “But we’re close to inviting him.”

Li Rong responded with a sound, then heard footsteps beside her.

The person Li Chuan brought was wearing a black cloak, their features hidden beneath the hood, their face unclear. As soon as she entered, Li Rong noticed her. Li Rong was still guessing this person’s identity, but seeing her walk to Pei Wenxuan’s cell, she understood.

Pei Wenxuan should have also guessed the visitor’s identity, but he didn’t speak—only watched quietly.

That person said nothing. She only raised her fair, slender hand and removed the wide hat above, revealing her delicate, refined features.

She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she gave one an extremely comfortable feeling—understated with a bit of peace. Most rare was that air of transcendence. Though clearly in the mundane world, she seemed somehow detached from worldly matters.

Pei Wenxuan watched her quietly, as if it was unexpected, yet also as if he had long been aware.

The woman smiled gently.

“It’s been a long time,” she spoke, her voice peaceful, “Elder Brother Pei.”